For the first time in years, Barça started the season in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League with serious chinks in their impenetrable armour, after a disappointing end to the previous season, where they failed to secure the title in the top European competition after a loss against SC Magdeburg in the semi-finals.

The losses of centre back Luka Cindric and line player Ludovic Fabregas, two crucial players in their star-studded squad, did not help. Neither did the injury of centre back Domen Makuc, who was supposed to take centre stage and take the reins of the team.